The Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year Awards began in 2000-01 to annually recognize student-athletes who displayed an extraordinary degree of sportsmanship and/or community service during the academic year. A male and female are honored each year.

The following student-athletes have been nominated for 2013-14 Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year. Criteria for the award includes examples of sportsmanship and ethical conduct, citizenship within the campus and community as well as academic achievement. The male nominees will be featured on Wednesday, June 25 and the two winners named on Thursday, June 26.

Whitney CanionBaylor, Sr, Softball*Overcame two major season-ending injuries to become the most decorated softball player in school history.*Semifinalist for the 2014 Wooden Citizenship Cup Award.*Actively involved in Waco, including Mission Waco Walk for the Homeless, Baylor Athletics Canned Food Drive, Food for Families and Operation Christmas Child.*Due to complete master's degree in August, 2014. Four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Alex JonesKansas, Sr, Softball*Vice-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and five-year member of SAAC.*Three-year team captain.*Community service projects include Soles for Souls, Special Olympics, Fun and Fitness and Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat.*Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Chantay CaronKansas State, Sr, Women's Basketball*Serves as a mentor to two young girls who were in her class while she was student teaching.*K-State representative at the 2013 Big 12 Leadership Summit.*Community service projects include Ft. Riley No Dough Dinner, Cats for Cans, Special Olympics and Adopt a Family.*Academic All-Big 12 First Team and Allstate WBCA Good Works Team candidate.

Taylor SpearsOklahoma, Sr, Gymnastics*Assisted after the devastating tornadoes that hit Oklahoma in May 2013.*Frequent visitor to the OKC Children's Hospital – Everett Cancer Center to interact with the patients.*Community service projects include Race for the Cure, Salvation Army Adopt-an-Angel, J.D. McCarty Children's Center and a canned food drive.*Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Jenna BlumerOklahoma State, Sr, Equestrian*Won the title at the NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship on a difficult horse, then presented her trophy to the horse's ecstatic owner.*Won the OSU Equestrian Coach's award for consistency and model character.*Community projects included Make Promises Happen Camp, Project WILD Workshop, Harvest II Food Drive and working with special needs children.*Academic All-Big 12 First Team and NCEA Academic First Team.

Alexi ChildTCU, Jr, Equestrian*Named the 2014 Big 12 Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year.*NCEA Elite Equestrian Student-Athlete Award nominee and NCEA Academic First Team.*Community activities include Frogs For The Cure, a Reading Challenge and helped the equestrian program capture the TCU Hal Jay Community Spirit Award.*Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Minta SpearsTexas Tech, Fr, Women's Basketball*Academic All-Big 12 First Team and voted a team captain as a redshirt freshman.*Speaks to students in the Lubbock School District about leadership and responsibility.*Community projects include South Plains Food Bank, Thank-athon, Angel Tree and works with special needs people at the High Point Village.*Spent a second summer in Uganda doing missionary and community work with the FCA.

Elizabeth GulickWest Virginia, Sr, Volleyball*Inducted into West Virginia's Mortar Board in 2014 – an honorary society focused on academics, leadership and community service.*Served on the 2014 WVU presidential search committee, was the Vice President of the Education Student Governance Associate and secretary of the WVU chapter of the council for exceptional children.*Majoring in Special Education and works extensively with children and adults with special needs. Academic All-Big 12 First Team.*Community projects include FCA, American Cancer Socity Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity and a WVU LeadWell Mentor.